New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Dec. 5 that Gallup Magistrate Court Judge Virginia A. Yazzie found probable cause to believe Mathew Vargas committed a second degree felony resulting in death on Oct. 14, 2017 for a head-on vehicular homicide on Highway 118 near Gallup.

Evidence was presented that Vargas suddenly veered across the center line into oncoming traffic, when he struck and killed motorist, Ernest Baker, in the other lane. Vargas’ car contained a half empty bottle of Goldschlager Whiskey. Additionally, three Xanax pills were found in the defendant’s pants pockets. A blood test confirmed Vargas had excessive amounts of Xanax in his system at the time of...

Diane Peter

Nov. 16, 1:34 pm

Aggravated DWI

McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Salina Brown said she was working for the DWI Task Force when she noticed a car make a wide turn at the intersection of Boardman Avenue and Aztec Avenue. She started following the vehicle and saw it drift near the fog line and then back to the center.

Brown hit her sirens and lights and saw the vehicle hit a curb as it was slowing down. She approached the driver, Diane Peter, 52, of Gallup, and told her she noticed that Peter’s vehicle was not staying in her lane.  Brown asked what was going on.

Peter said her car was out of alignment due to a previous accident. When asked where she was headed...

Organizations and people hand in glove

People were picking through winter clothes when the music started.  Tables stacked with sweaters and pants were left behind when We Are the World began to play over the loudspeakers. The anthem for USA for Africa drew volunteers and attendees to the center of courthouse square, where they joined hands.

“The healing power of giving - in so many areas.” Bill Camarota called it.

Camarota is the special projects director of WellSpring Recovery Center, part of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services. This first-time event was organized in part by clients of the center.

The First Annual RMCHCS/Gallup Day of Giving at the Courthouse...

Vote to come in December

The McKinley County Board of Commissioners heard a presentation regarding a new ordinance involving the Liquor Excise Tax at their Nov. 19 meeting.

“The ordinance was voted for during the Nov. 5 election,” Lori Parra, director of the McKinley County Community Services Department, said. “This ordinance is in effect for three years from the approval date.”

County Attorney Doug Decker specified the effective date of the ordinance will be March 1, 2020 if adopted as written.

The ballot asked voters if they think McKinley County should continue to impose the Liquor Excise Tax at the maximum amount of six percent, as allowed by state law.

The tax revenue...